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The work load at times on the ward or in the clinical area
makes me a bit stressed out and in the process you can get a bit
angry. So when people talk to you sometimes you snap
unknowingly. It‟s frustrating when everybody wants you to do three
things at the same time which you know is not possible
Alice: I think anger is something that people find very hard to
express and quite often that can be a key to really opening
something up. I think there‟s quite a lot of trying to dampen down
people‟s anger.
Lois: Yes so if you find out what the anger is about, it is quite often
a signpost to something that is not right…
Alice: Which is actually what reflective practice is about isn‟t it?
Alex: Yes.
Alice: Whereas if you are feeling that anger isn‟t all right and you
can‟t be angry because that‟s not done, then it means you‟ve less
access to knowing what it is that‟s going wrong or what you‟re
concerned about. You haven‟t got the material for reflective practice
because you are trying not to feel it and you are trying to fit in to the
team you are working with. I think there is a lot of trying to be good
isn‟t there?
Clare: Say more
Alice: Like professionals, trying to be a good professional and
that‟s not about being angry.
Clare: So are you saying reflective practice gives you the
confidence to get back in touch with your emotions?
Alice: Yes I am. (7 th Co-inquiry meeting 7/7/05)
Notice here how reluctant Alex is to own feeling angry using ‗you‘ rather
than ‗I‘; a form of disembodied talk. The emotion is distanced from herself.
Alice linked the ideal of being a good professional which I have suggested
originates from the Victorian ideals of ‗a good woman‘ with not showing
anger. She felt getting in touch with ones feelings, in particular anger, led
to a consideration of the question: If I don‟t like this, what can I do to
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